St. Francis of Assisi

What thoughts are generated by the name "St. Francis of Assisi"? Do you connect the name to acts of kindness towards fellow human beings? Or do you see St. Francis as the one to whom all creatures great and small flock for care and counsel? In many expressions of the church, today is set apart as "Feast of St. Francis of Assisi"...

This man of the 12th century most likely had no clue that in the 21st century there would be plaques and statues, poems and prayers and songs (even amongst the moderately spiritual folk) inspired by facts and legends about his 45 year long walk on the earth. Like any other human being he had a finite number of days.... but somehow his relationship with God guided his actions in a way that struck an eternal chord that still reverberates.

Take a walk through any garden center and you will most likely see reflections of his life. Browse through any Hallmark Shop and you will see cards and figurines with all or part of the prayer of St. Francis as the theme:

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Here in my home on October 4, 2010, my heart thrums with whatever it is that vibrated in you, Francis... I pray that I, too, may somehow be an instrument.... my song may not be clear...and I know the pitch is imperfect... but I offer what I have, and believe that, with God's help, it may be enough.